Monday, 21 November 2011

Highlighting how the killers of journalists go free

International Freedom of Expression Exchange, the global network for free expression, has designated this Wednesday (November 23) as the inaugral International Day to End Impunity, and will highlight cases where journalists have been killed and their murders have not been brought to justice.

IFEX reports that in the past 10 years 500 journalists have been killed and in nine out of 10 cases the murderers have gone free.

November 23 is the anniversary of the anniversary of the single deadliest attack on journalists in recent history: the 2009 Maguindanao massacre in the Philippines when 57 people were slaughtered, including 32 journalists and media workers.

"The day will be a platform... to demand that journalists' killers do not go free, and to ensure that our colleagues working in countries with continuous and rampant impunity feel that their work is valued and their life is treasured," said the Committee to Protect Journalists. According to CPJ's 2011 Impunity Index, Iraq once again ranked the highest in terms of unsolved murders (92) in the past 10 years.

The NUJ and the International Federation of Journalists is supporting a number of events to mark the second anniversary of the Magindanao massacre and highlighting the killings of journalists and others in the Philippines. They including a public meeting on Wednesday 23 November at 6.00pm on 'The Maguindanao Massacre: Never Forget' at Amnesty International Human Rights Action Centre17-25 New Inn Yard London EC2A 3EA. Speakers include: IFJ President Jim Boumelha and Carlos Zarate, from the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines.

About Me

I am a freelance journalist based in the UK and was deputy editor of Press Gazette, the journalists' magazine, from 1993 until 2006. I want to give an independent view on media matters.
You can contact me with stories, ideas and comments by email at jon.slattery369@btinternet.com You can also follow me on Twitter @jonslattery